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Key dates over September 1916

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Lives lost on this day: 3

27th September 1916 - 1,000,000 in 12 months: Substituting the Less Fit

2nd Batt: Batt relieved in the evening by 5th West Yorks and Lancs Reg and move to billets in Souastre.

4th Batt; great news came that combles was taken. There was boxing pm and Pte Darby, 4th Worcs was winner in the Lightweights. Batt lost 2 and won 2 events.

10th Batt: 57th Brigade was inspected by Army Commander Gen, Sir Henry Horne who presented medal ribbons including 2 Victoria Crosses; one to Col Carton de Wiart of 8th Glos and one to Pte TG Turrall on 10th Worcs.

Yeomanry/Cavalry; Reg left Kantara for the last time until after the Armistice.

1,000,000 in 12 months: Substituting the Less Fit: Under the new scheme to draw young men now in civil life into the Army a Substitution Bureau is being opened at each recruiting office. Lists of substitutes will be kept, the men’s occupations and previous employers being recorded. Employers are being invited to inform recruiting officers of the number of young fit men for whom they are able to take substitutes. Negotiations will then be carried out between employers and recruiting officers in order that the exchange may be effected…No fewer than one million men must be found for the Army during the next twelve months.

More Honours for the Worcestershires: D.C.M: 8289 Sergt. F.D. Jowett, For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When in charge of a signalling station in a very exposed position and under heavy shell fire, he maintained communication for five hours after he had been severely wounded. Finally he was ordered away after receiving a second wound; D.S.O: Capt. (Temp. Major) George Seton Briscoe: For conspicuous gallantry in action. During the attack he made untiring efforts under heavy shell fire to get consolidated parties forward to the newly captured position. He led them personally until severely wounded; Military Cross: Temp. Sec. Lieut. William Scott Knowles: For conspicuous gallantry in action. During the attack he led forward a bombing party at a critical moment, when the enemy were rallying and attempting to reoccupy their trench. He himself wounded on this occasion for the third time.

Engineers’ Mascot Astray: Lance Corpl. Frederick Mayer, Pitchcroft, was summoned for being the owner of a dog found straying in Copenhagen Street. P.C. Repton said that the dog was a mongrel. It had no collar. Defendant said the dog had had a collar but it had been taken off. The dog was the Engineers’ mascot. Defendant said he had had to pay 4s. for eight days’ keep of the dog. The Bench, having regard to all the circumstances, dismissed the summons.

The Story of a Sheet: Martha Dunn (69), 10, George’s Yard, was charged with stealing from No. 11, George’s Yard, on calico sheet, value 3s., the property of Alice Draper. At the former hearing prosecutrix alleged that defendant took the sheet, and it was afterwards seen on her line. Defendant said the sheet belonged to her, she bought it from Coleman’s about a year before. Her daughter corroborated. The case was then adjourned in order that defendant could produce the companion sheet. Now prosecutrix was recalled, and said that she bought the sheets and hemmed them. Mr. Reginald Watts, an assistant to Messrs’ Russell and Dorrell was shown the sheet which defendant no produced and the one which she was alleged to have stolen. He believed that they were a pair. The Bench dismissed the case.

Lieut. G. L. Spreckley, of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, whose name appeared in the casualty lists as wounded, is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Spreckley, of Worcester. Happily, his injury is slight, and he is expected home from a Birmingham hospital today. Lieut. Spreckley, like his fighting brothers, was educated at Bromsgrove School, where he was one of the best footballers of his day.

Sir.- It is freely talked about in St. Stephen’s parish that the Vicar, without having consulted the congregation, has decided on introducing incense at the ten o’clock service next Sunday. Personally, I object to attend services where such practices are allowed and, so far as I can form an opinion, I feel sure most of the worshippers have a similar objection. It would have been but a simple and courteous act for the Vicar to have taken the usual method of ascertaining what the views of those who attend and support the church were, but he has not taken such a course and, in the circumstances, it would be a way of showing what the feeling is if those who resent the introduction of this Romish innovation would refrain from attending the service referred to, and in fact all services where incense is used. This is a preliminary to a meeting to be called by the Churchwardens, which should be done without delay. ONE OF THE CONGREGATION.

Content researched by the Worcestershire World War100 project team.